pinterest love

i think i may need to make a quilt like this soon//gorgeous bedroom. can i have it?//if we ever got iphones i would want this pretty case//sunglass love//guys im in love with this nixon watch. wink wink hubs!

have a happy weekend loves!

xo

ps. get 50% off your Made With Love orders from now until monday. use code: LaborDayMWL 

Happy Labor Day weekend, loves! 

life according to instagram

if you were to look through my instagram you would see life has looked a little like it does above.  you can follow me @erykaann :)

family get together//date night at the gateway//dan in love with all the cool toys at blinkenstaffs. seriously go when you can. so fun with all the old school toys and candy//even had some cool drinks//date night//hubby takes me on late night drives when im having a bad night//homemade pizza//laying bed watching gossip girl//our cute nieces//a sock bun kind of day//uncle dan and bailey//love one another. saw this driving one day//picnic//gorgeous clouds//park date with the nieces//snuggling bailey 

have a happy hump day loves! 

from here to eternity: a guest post

Hi loves! Today we have one my very favorite bloggers Courtney taking over the blog. I have a feeling if we lived close to each other, she and I would be real life friends! So without further ado....Miss Courtney!

Can I just start by saying I'm SO excited to be taking over Eryka's blog?! I love this girl and I also love making new friends ;)

I'm Courtney and my husband is Eric! I blog at From Here to Eternity where I share our adventures, awkward moments, and little details of our life. My husband is obsessed with guns (what can I say... he's a small town boy!)and the Red Sox, and I'm obsessed with all things girly and pink.

Our newest obsession is my belly, or more specifically, my growing belly. We are expecting our first baby in December... a little girl!! I can't wait to see my "manly" gun-loving husband melt into a big puddle of love when he holds baby girl for the first time :)

If you'd like to follow our lives through twitter or instagram, we'd love to have you! Like I said... I love to make new friends :)

So Eryka asked me a few questions, which is so great because my creative juices don't flow as easily as they did before I got pregnant :) (Yes, I'm one of those moms who blames anything and everything she can on her child, ha ha.)

1. Who or What inspired you to start your blog?
My sister in law has been blogging for a few years and I always loved reading her blog! Then I had a few friends who used their blog sorta like a journal (which is totally what I'm doing) and they printed their blog into a book. And they are nice books! I loved the idea of having a space where I could share our stories and pictures without having to scrapbook or actually pull out a journal to write in. I had no idea that blogging would become such a FUN hobby, the best place for inspiration, and that I'd get to meet so many amazing women and make friends from all over!

2. When you aren't blogging, what are you doing? 
To be honest? I'm usually sitting on my butt, growing a baby. Ha ha, I'm totally kidding! I want to be sitting on my butt but I'm usually doing lame house chores, or working at the salon (I'm a hairstylist!), or trying to work out. I am really into running but I've had to give that up in the last month or so because it affected my sciatic nerves so badly. But I'm a huge lover of spinning and plan on doing that up until I have this baby!

3. What is your favorite part of doing hair?
This is so hard..... I would have to say my favorite part is how social my job is! I may have mentioned this already, but I love making new friends ;) I get to make new friends each day, and chat my old friends ears off while I do their hair. It's a win-win for me! And of course it is the most satisfying feeling ever when I can give my client exactly the hairstyle they are looking for, and help them feel like a million bucks! I know it makes my day so much better when I get my hair done, and I love being able to give that feeling to my clients!

4. What is your go to outfit?
I should probably be really embarrassed by the picture I'm going to share... but what can I say? I'm pregnant and lazy!

My husband's basketball shorts are the best and most comfortable things in our closet! This specific pair I've pretty much taken over since we got married and I love them even more now that I'm pregnant! The best part of my day is stripping off my pants and throwing these shorts on. I never changed my shirt so I rarely match but that's okay :) When winter rolls around I've got my eye on a pair of Eric's sweats that will be huge and baggy, but so comfy for my belly. I've learned that being comfortable right now is WAY more important than looking cute, ha ha!

I just love her to pieces with that cute bump! Oh yeah, her sister in law she was talking about is Alycia from Crowely Party! Thanks for taking over Courtney! :)

Have a happy day. Be sure to go over to her blog and say Hi! 
Xo

craving all things fall

fall must haves by erykaannclark 

am i alone in totally craving fall? im so ready to bust out my button ups, boots, and sweaters. i can't wait to style this baby for fall. fall is my fave season. if you haven't noticed. crisp days, pumpkin flavored everything, layering, rainy days, and pretty leaves. i think my love for this certain season comes from me being born in november. yay for november birthdays! anyways, excuse me while i go day dream about fall. {sigh} 

hope you all had a lovely weekend! 
xox

ps. if you know anything about when mad men is coming back. please, please let me know. this is serious guys. im dying for some new mad men. :)

what i believe

religion is something i don't post alot about on here. i have a beliefs tab above but, i don't do religion posts too often. im not sure why......anyways.

the other night there was an nbc special {click to see some of the videos} on called "mormon in america". we watched and i felt they didn't really explain what we believe. in my opinion they made us sound like a bunch of secretive crazies. that is just my opinion on it. please don't get mad if you don't agree. i have been thinking about this for a couple of days on what i want to say and how i want to say it. so please bare with me, and understand these are just my words. {im in no way a writer or an expert on anything} 

i want to a take a few seconds to let you all know i am proud to be a member of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. {click to learn more about my beliefs}. after i watched that special on nbc. i left feeling like people in the world think we are very secretive and a judgmental religion. 

in some cases there have been people who have experienced that sense of exclusion. i want to say im sorry and tell you all i believe in loving one another. no matter their lifestyle. i have friends from all different walks of life. just because i don't live my life they way they doesn't mean i judge them or love them any less than i love my friends who are lds. i even have family members who are not members of the church. what im trying to say, one of the biggest things in our religion is love. love for all man kind. we are taught even as young children to love as jesus did and to show kindness is all that we do. 

yes there are somethings that we can't talk about to just anyone. like, the scared ordinances that take place inside the temple. the things that take place inside the temples are very scared and special to us. i know i have had alot of friends say "well, why am i not good enough to go inside?". my response is "well, you can be if you live you life according to the gospel!".  just because we don't talk about that part of religion doesn't mean there isn't lots of other topics we are more than willing to discuss with anyone! 

im going to wrap this up but, if you have any questions i am more than willing to answer them. i want you all to know i love you and will do my best to answer accordingly. so, please don't hesitate to ask me anything you maybe wondering about. you are more than welcome to email me at: {abcde.the.blog@gmail.com} or feel free to click on the beliefs tab up above and explore the mormon.org site. so many useful info on there.

i am disabling the comments on this post. just so if you have any questions or comments you will send them to my email. i hope all can understand a little better what i believe. 

i love each and every one of you!
xo

if you really knew me...

then you would know...

+ My shop is now open. Click here to start shopping! 

+ I have to have a pillow in between my leg, a night light, and cool wash cloth on my head. In order to fall asleep. I know im so weird. The pillow is comfy, the night light is so when I get up it's not super dark and the wash cloth relaxes me. High maintenance over I tell you. 

+ I paint my nails atleast once a week. 

+ I do not like putting my clothes away. They usually stay on the floor for weeks. 

+ I am a California girl at heart but, really don't miss it all that much. So weird. 

+ Dan and I knew we were going to get married after a week of being with each other. When you know, you know. 

+ Im very clumsy . I run into something at least once a day. 

+ Im blind as a bat. I pray our children get Dan's vision not mine. 

+ I went to cosmetology school in California and Im a licensed hairstylist in CA. 

+ My mom and I used to share clothes when I lived at home. Sometimes I miss that. 

+ I don't wear any jewelry other than my wedding and engagement rings, oh and some maybe some earrings. 


you have probably seen these floating around the blogosphere. so, i thought sure why not jump on the bang wagon. everyone's doing right?! {bahaha} 

ps. still taking questions for a little q&a. so email me at abcde.the.blog@gmail.com

Guest Post: Mother At Heart

Hi guys, today we have the beautiful Shaylee taking over my blog. In fact we are blog swapping for the day. So after you check out her post, go on over to her blog and read mine. Trust me you will want to keep reading her's. There's a special treat for you at the end! :) 

Hello, ABCDE readers! I'm so thrilled to be guest-posting for Eryka today! You can see her post on my blog right now!

Alright, so introductions! I'm Shaylee Ann. I'm nineteen. I'm single. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

I blog at Mother {at} Heart. I'm short, quietly loud, and a lover of all things mommy and baby. And that pretty much sums me up!

Eryka said I could talk about whatever I want, so I'm going to tell you all about a passion of mine - designing. 

I have an immense love for fonts, color schemes, and HTML tags. When I was about sixteen, I started my first blog. Amo Vita was simple, bright, and boring. I used backgrounds from sites like The Cutest Blog on the Block. Their backgrounds are darling, but the border around the header was ugly, and the lack of personality gave me no desire to ever post. How could I post when it looked so . . . horrid?

So, I rolled up my sleeves and googled everything I could about blog design. I began by using MS Powerpoint as I made the transition from Amo Vita to Simple Elegance,  

I created my own header with my own images and cute fonts, and hello, I was in heaven. After a while I learned how to create my own headers, sidebar titles, post dividers, favicons, and signatures.

 They weren't adorable by any means, but they were a step towards becoming a self-proclaimed designer. Once I realized that I could personalize my blog even more, I taught myself how to read basic HTML by watching tutorials on Youtube. I practiced, and practiced, and practiced some more. I gave my blog more makeovers than I can count. Then, once I felt comfortable enough to share my new skills with others, I began Simple {&} Elegant Designs. I designed half a blog before finding the need to close shop, due to a busy life and not enough time to spend designing. I continued to design my personal blog, transitioned from Simple {&} Elegance to Mother {at} Heart,

and by Spring of this year, my designing was taking off. I started out simple, with just fonts and colors, then moved on to create my own graphics and tweak every bit of code I could get my hands on. I went back to using at program that I have tried out before, but hadn't really been converted to, yet - Paint.Net. Three blogs later, I was on my way to starting up my own designing business - Dream 65 Designs - this time sticking with it, and going all out.

Now, I create email stationary from scratch;

I design blogs for friends and fellow bloggers, and I offer my newly-acquired design knowledge to anyone who asks. I love what I do, and I love that I can earn money from doing what I love.

Because I love Eryka's readers, YOU, I'm offering the first person to read this post, to become a follower of Mother {at} Heart via GFC, and to email me, a free custom email stationary. 

Would you like that? 

I thought so. ;)

Thank you again to dear Eryka for giving me the opportunity to do this post, and for being so very patient with me! ;) Have a fantastic Tuesday, loves! :)

I told you there was a treat for you. So, what are you waiting for. Good luck!! && thanks Shaylee for taking over my blog today! 

insta weekend

pretty sunlight friday morning//gorgeous sunset//jcrew catalog. happy mail day//city creek with my sister in law saturday//daniel sure loves me. he bought me hunger games on blu ray//slc temple//jcrew kills me everytime//watching the hunger games extras and relaxing sunday afternoon//pretty baby dresses at target. so baby hungry, not even funny. i may need to buy it for my cousin matt&val since they are having a baby girl in november//wingers with the mcgees saturday night//ordered these pretty glasses from firmoo. your first pair is free. all you pay is shipping 6.95!//getting our hick on with the mcgees saturday at the races

now excuse me while i go watch hunger games again. 

hope you all had a happy weekend. 

xoxo

pinterest love

1. new favorite quote.

2. colored denim. can i have one of each? 

3. emma is stunning. 

4. mini boden bloomers. if i had a little, i would buy these right now. 

5. pretty fireplace and chair. 

6. the cutest little girl ever. 

just a few pins im loving. happy weekend lovelies! 

xoxo

ps. firmoo is this amazing site where you can your first pair of glasses free. just pay for shipping. i know right! ayways, please help me choose which ones to get. the 1st are just for fun. i think i look crazy. im sorta loving the 2nd. leave your choice in the comments below! xo

Guest Post: Cooking with Ashley

Hi guys, Today we have a special treat. The lovely Ashley from Thrifty & Nifty Modern Day Momma is here again but, this time she is sharing a yummy recipe. I just might need to make this asap! I always love when she guests posts. Hope you all love this one! :)

Hello!

I am Ashley from Thrifty & Nifty Modern Day Momma.

Eryka is wonderful enough to have me again and 

has given me free reign to blog about whatever I would like. =)

So I thought what better to share with you then a yummy, thrifty, easy recipe.

More often than not for me, things get super busy throughout the day 

and I need something fast yet delish and wholesome to cook for dinner.

While searching the other day for something new to cook and I 

came across this wonderful recipe and have to say it will be

 one of my go to meals from now on!

I loved it so much I knew I HAD to share it with you!

Steak & Rice

Prep Time:

10 Min

Cook Time:

20 Min

Ready In:

30 Min

Here is what you need:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds round steak
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small yellow onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 (29 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cube beef bouillon cube
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 cups water
• 
  

2 cups rice

1 cups water (unless using rice cooker than 2 cups water)

Here is what you do:

Directions

1. Trim any fat from round steak and slice meat into thin 2 to 3 inch long strips. Remove the seeds and core from the green bell pepper, and slice into thin 3 inch long strips.
2. In a large frying pan over medium to high heat add oil and cook meat until medium rare, add peppers and continue cooking until meat is browned.
3. Reduce heat to simmer and add tomatoes, soy sauce, garlic powder, black pepper and ginger. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
4. Dissolve bullion cube and corn starch in 2 cups water and stir well before adding to simmering beef. Cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce resembles the consistency of gravy. Remove from heat and serve over a bed of rice.
5. To cook rice: In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in 1 cup of rice. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes.

I used a rice cooker so I used 2 cups rice to 2 cups water. Make sure to rinse rice well and then follow your rice cookers instructions.

and the finished product...

Not only was it fast & easy, it taste great and look so pretty.

I love meals like this that turn out perfect and the left overs were just as good as 

it was fresh off the skillet. 

I do hope you try it and let me know what you think. 

Also make sure you share some of your favorite easy meals with me!

 I love trying new recipes. 

Thanks again Eryka for having me.

I hope you guys will come and visit me and share some of your yummy recipes, 

that will help make this busy momma's life a little easier!

Shine On Lovelies,

Ashley 

blog//pinterest//twitter

Told you it looked super yummy. Let me know if you try it or even better let Ashley know! :) 

xo

any questions?

with the huge increase of readers on this here blog, which im still trying to wrap my head around. 251 followers. cray cray. i thought it would be so fun to do a q&a. so do you have any questions for me? or daniel? anything you are dying to know about us? him or me? or whatever? well, we want to answer them. email me at abcde.the.blog@gmail.com

we will do a q&a post soon, so get those questions in! 

kthanksss! :) 

insta weekend

jamba juice saturday morning//gorgeous sky saturday night//lunch date @ lonestar in slc//to do list before made with love can open//redbox night//sunday outfit teal+purple. {undershirt: downeast//teal top: forever 21//maxi + shoes: target//belt: d.i centerville}

welp, that was our weekend. pretty low key but amazing. im cutting my hair today! if you follow me on instagram stay tuned for a pic later today. im thinking i will channel my inner elizabeth olsen and do this. yeah, ive been trying to grow my hair but its not getting any longer so im ready for something new! 

currently obsessing over

Lauren Conrad's Fall collection. I love me some LC. I have adored her since Laguna Beach {only the best show ever}. Then on the Hills. Sometimes I wish I was her. haha jk! Her Fall line is beyond amazing. I want to own every piece. See it here. 

Happy Weekend Loves! 

xo

getting to that happy place

The other night I was wide awake. So, I started looking through old photos on my Facebook page. 40 min later I was seriously regretting it. I quickly started feeling bad for myself. "I was so skinny back then", "I want to love me, again" or "I miss being skinner" were some of the thoughts that ran through my head. You know the usual pitty party. I hate that I do this to myself. I hate that I let this get to me. I really am trying to be better about this. 

Looking at these photos reminded me of when I was happy with my body and myself. I miss that feeling. I miss being content with my body. I keep saying to myself and outloud "I need to loose weight!" but, I haven't done anything about it. In these photos I wasn't "skinny" but I was happy with my body and the way I looked. 

Then I see friends and family who have lost weight recently and I am so happy/proud of them. Truly I am. I love seeing those I love happy. I just want to be happy with me, again. Oddly the day after I had myself a pity party The Slash Blog posted a blog post about beauty. Elise wrote a beautiful post on loving yourself. I so needed this. She even made a printable that made me cry when I read it. It was just what I needed to read. {printable here}

This by no means, cured me at all. I still feel pretty crappy at times during the day. I have a feeling this will be a constant battle I will face. Its not so much about being skinny again, but being happy with my body again. 

I know that with a little faith in my Heavenly Father, love from my loved ones and time I will be able to get to the happy place again. So, thanks to Elise and Nichelle over at the Slash Blog for posting that post. You girls are amazing! "Beauty is not just about how you look, its about who you are"..so true. 

a happy list

yeah, we are already 7 days into august and im just now posting this. 

whoops. anyways, what is making you happy this month?! do share in 

a comment below. kthankss! xox

pssttt....made with love will finally be opening very soon!!!! i cannot wait for my shop to be open! 

into the woods we went

friday afternoon we packed the car and into the woods we went with our good friends phil and bridget. we had so much fun chatting all night, eating tin foil dinners, devouring a batch of muddy buddies, playing uno super late and laughing our heads off. oh and bridget and i were so excited to wear our hoodies. yay for cool weather. we hope to go camping one more time before summer ends. oh so much fun! hope you all had a great weekend! 

ps. my phone is broke again. lucky for me, daniel ordered some stuff to fix it for me. so til then i just have some old school phone with no instagram. how am i going to live? haha jk. im actually excited to be semi cut off from all the social media at my finger tips.